Posts Written OnJune 2005

Why on earth would Snapple attempt to break the world record for largest ice pop in June…in Manhattan? If you’re in the mood for a dinner party-sized frozen treat, try this recipe for Pink Grapefruit, Strawberry and Champagne Granita. And even though it’s not Champagne, if you’re in New York, you should make it with Lieb Family Cellars 2001 Blanc de Blanc…which is a sparkling pinot blanc.

Taking a page out of Jaime Goode’s book, I’ve decided to start taking pictures every Sunday of the wines Nena and I have tasted the week prior. It was a relatively small lot this week…I expect it will grow the next couple of weeks as I pre-write several columns for July (when I’ll be out for our wedding and honeymoon). This week, we have (from left to right): Laurel Lake Vineyards 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon: B- Laurel Lake Vineyards 2000 Cabernet Franc: C+ Laurel Lake Vineyards 2003 Pinot Noir: B/B+ Sherwood House Vineyards 2001 Merlot: A- Sherwood House Vineyards 2001 Chardonnay:…

As you can see in the picture above, our first garden is growing quite nicely. The zucchini and tomatoes seem to be doing particuarly well, with the peppers and cukes doing okay in their own right. Our basil plant is getting a bit unruly (need to start using it more!) but some of the herb seeds we planted are starting to poke their heads through the dirt too. Now that it’s growing (and going) so well, I really wish we had planted more. It’s still not bad for a first garden though. I’m definitely hooked. I’m particuarly proud of how…

(This column appeared in the 6/17/05 issue of Dan’s Papers) Ever since the release of the movie Sideways, pinot noir has been the “it” wine. Even here on Long Island, I’ve been told stories about customers walking into a tasting room and buying bottle after bottle of pinot noir – without even tasting it or knowing how much it costs. As difficult as Pinot Noir can be to grow and make (well), that sort of impulse buying seems a little silly to me. But of the handful of Long Island wineries that make it, most do it well, including Castello di…

Sherwood House Vineyards is owned and operated by Dr. Charles Smithen, a New York City-based Cardiologist and his wife Barbara, a vintage jewelry dealer. Charles’ love of and passion for wine really started in the 1960s when he was working in England…and took regular trip to French wine country. After moving to the North Fork of Long Island and planting vines, they started by selling their grapes to local wineries for three years before deciding to make their own wines — starting with a 1999 chardonnay. They now make chardonnay and merlot, and their wines are available for tasting and…

As any of you on the eastern seaboard are aware, we’ve been having some seriously hot and humid weather the last week or two. It’s supposed to reach 90+ today…which isn’t common for Long Island this early in June. I bring this up because that very heat wave has forced me to move all of the wine that doesn’t fit in our wine fridge into our BEDROOM of all places — because we keep that room cooler (via A/C) all day. Luckily, Nena is very patient with my wine pyschosis and there is room behind our door to store the…

(This column originally appeared in the 6/10 issue of Dan’s Papers) In a recent issue of Wine Spectator, columnist Matt Kramer wrote a thoughtful piece discussing large wineries versus smaller ones, concluding (convincingly) that smaller really is better. Though Kramer doesn’t define what a “small” winery is, you can take my word for it – most, if not all, Long Island wineries qualify. Of course, being a small winery doesn’t automatically mean your wines are any good. Anyone who has tasted wines from some of our lesser local wineries can attest to that. After all, doing the wrong things in…